Locating method

Abstract

A method for locating a rigid support body at a predetermined location with respect to an aperture in a wall of a facility is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a rigid support body at a first position outside a facility, the rigid support body comprising at least one retaining element disposed in a storage position, and comprising a through-bore that extends through the support body from a first end of the support body to a further end; via a first pulling force applied to a first terminal end region of a flexible elongate member that includes a covered region located in the through-bore, urging the rigid support body at least partially through an aperture in a wall of a facility, the rigid support body thereby being located at a further position whereby a portion of the rigid support body and at least one retaining element supported on the rigid support body is within the facility and the retaining element is spaced apart from an inner surface of the wall of the facility; subsequent to location of said retaining element within the facility and in a spaced apart relationship with said inner wall surface, positioning the retaining element out of a storage position by selectively swivelling the retaining element from the storage position; and subsequently urging the rigid support body into a retained position whereby at least a portion of an abutment surface of the retaining element is disposed in an abutting relationship with the inner surface of the wall proximate to the aperture to thereby locate the rigid support body at a predetermined location with respect to the aperture in which the retaining element is disposed in a deployed position.

1 . A method for locating a rigid support body at a predetermined location with respect to an aperture in a wall of a facility, comprising the steps of:
 providing a rigid support body at a first position outside a facility, the rigid support body comprising at least one retaining element disposed in a storage position, and comprising a through-bore that extends through the support body from a first end of the support body to a further end;   via a first pulling force applied to a first terminal end region of a flexible elongate member that includes a covered region located in the through-bore, urging the rigid support body at least partially through an aperture in a wall of a facility, the rigid support body thereby being located at a further position whereby a portion of the rigid support body and at least one retaining element supported on the rigid support body is within the facility and the retaining element is spaced apart from an inner surface of the wall of the facility;   subsequent to location of said retaining element within the facility and in a spaced apart relationship with said inner wall surface, positioning the retaining element out of a storage position by selectively swivelling the retaining element from the storage position; and   subsequently urging the rigid support body into a retained position whereby at least a portion of an abutment surface of the retaining element is disposed in an abutting relationship with the inner surface of the wall proximate to the aperture to thereby locate the rigid support body at a predetermined location with respect to the aperture in which the retaining element is disposed in a deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 securing a terminal end of a first winching line to the first terminal end region of the flexible elongate member, the winching line optionally being secured to the flexible elongate member via a Chinese finger cable grip element.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 providing the first pulling force via a tension in the first winching line provided by a winching element coupled to a remaining terminal end of the first winching line.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 applying the first pulling force applied to the first terminal end in a first pulling direction and, via the first pulling force, providing an urging force to the rigid support body in a first penetration direction aligned with an axis of the rigid support body.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 applying the first pulling force applied to the first terminal end in the first pulling direction that is a substantially vertically upward direction.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 securing a remaining terminal end region of the flexible elongate member to a tensioning element, the tensioning element optionally being secured to the flexible elongate member via a further Chinese finger cable grip element, the tensioning element optionally comprising a further winching line, a cable engine or a clamping quadrant.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 via a further pulling force on the tensioning element, urging the rigid support body in a further penetration direction directed away from within the facility, the penetration direction optionally extending in an axis that is around 45 degrees to the primary axis associated with the wall of the facility.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 urging the rigid support body into the retained position via relaxing the first pulling force and allowing movement of a previously inside portion of the rigid support body out of the facility via gravity.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 positioning the retaining element by selectively swivelling the retaining element from the storage position to the deployed position, optionally via an intermediate position.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the step of selectively swivelling comprises:
 selectively swivelling at least one of a pair of retaining arms, each disposed on respective opposed sides of the rigid support body, about a respective swivel point, from a storage position towards a deployed position, optionally via an intermediate position. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 simultaneously swivelling both retaining arms of the pair.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , whereby the step of selectively swivelling comprises:
 removing a securing constraint on each retaining arm and subsequently urging each retaining arm to the deployed position via gravity or via a biasing force exerted via a biasing member.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reversibly urging the retaining element into a deployed position.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 via a sealing element, sealing the aperture around the rigid support body to thereby prevent fluid communication between the facility and the environment in at least one direction.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 with the rigid body in the retained position in which an axial position of the rigid support body with respect to a location of the aperture remains substantially unchanged, constantly adjusting a swivel angle and/or an angle of attack, of an abutment surface of a retaining element, adopted by each retaining element responsive to environmental forces whereby the retaining element maintains an equilibrium position responsive to all forces exerted on the rigid support body despite at least one of a yaw and pitch and roll angle associated with an orientation of the rigid support body varying.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 releasing each retaining element from a storage position by breaking a frangible connection of an associated retaining latch arm via an ROV or by urging an abutment element of the latch arm into abutment with an outside surface of the wall as the rigid support body is urged at least partly through the aperture.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least a portion of the inner surface of the wall of the facility comprises a protective layer to reduce damage and/or wear, the protective layer optionally being corrosion resistant.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the facility comprises a monopile that optionally comprises a portion of a turbine tower of a Wind Turbine Generator (WTG).   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the flexible elongate member comprises a flexible pipe or umbilical or a submarine cable and optionally the elongate member comprises a dynamic portion of a submarine electricity cable.   
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the rigid support body is arranged, in the retained position in which the retaining element is located in a deployed position, at an oblique angle in respect of a vertical axis associated with the facility, the angle optionally being about around 45 degrees.